13 Apr 2014

Black Sticks finish 4th

6:26 pm on 13 April 2014

The New Zealand women's hockey team have finished fourth at a six nations tournament in Hawke's Bay after losing Sunday's bronze medal playoff to China 3-2.

China opened the scoring before Petrea Webster, Rose Keddell netted for New Zealand

only for the visitors to snatch back the lead by half time.

After a goalless second half the Black Sticks assistant coach Sean Dancer says China blunted the New Zealand attack.

Dancer says China's defence was heavily packed and the Black Sticks strikers couldn't find any space.

He says the New Zealand squad of 26 will soon be cut to 18 for next month's World Cup in the Netherlands.

Japan beat Korea 2-1 in a play off for fifth, while Argentina won the tournament by beating Australia 3-nil in the final.